United SHE Stands

In episode 161, we talk with congressional candidate Don Leonard about what it really means to be a “Do-Something Democrat” in this political moment. Our conversation spans the issues hitting working families hardest - from healthcare, childcare, and housing to economic insecurity, immigration, and accountability for ICE - and what practical action in Congress could look like. Don spent the last d...

In episode 160, we bring you our monthly Ohio-politics focus discussion and, yes, we’re already talking about what could be on your November ballot. We break down the four citizen-led ballot initiatives currently gathering signatures - from marriage equality and broad nondiscrimination protections to a proposal to abolish property taxes and an effort to end qualified immunity - so you know what th...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.unitedshestands.com In January’s ✨bonus✨ episode, we debrief The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life by Anu Partanen. We unpack how Nordic countries define freedom, independence, and care. We also explore how universal systems like healthcare, childcare, and worker protections can actually increase individual f...

In episode 158, we sit down with Democratic candidate Allison Russo to discuss her run for Ohio Secretary of State, her record defending free and fair elections, and her vision for strengthening democracy for all Ohioans. Resources: * Campaign Website * Donate to Allison’s Campaign * Instagram * TikTok * Facebook * X/Twitter * Threads Connect with United SHE Stands: * Substack * Instagram * TikTok...

In episode 157, we’re joined by Hell Cat Cait Conley - a decorated combat veteran and national security expert running for Congress in New York’s 17th District. From protecting our democracy to fixing what’s broken in Washington, Cait shares why it’s time for leaders who know how to get sh*t done. Resources: * Cait Conley for Congress Website * Hell Cats Website * Donate to Cait’s Campaign: * ActB...

In episode 156, we set our 2026 intentions and ask the uncomfortable question - why don’t more people care about politics? We dig into where apathy comes from, why it matters, and how we move from disengagement to action. Resources * Political Apathy | EBSCO Research Starters * 10 Causes of Voter Apathy in the United States | GoodParty.org * How Does U.S. Voter Turnout Compare to the Rest of the W...

Week Two of our holiday break AKA we’re re-releasing another goodie from 2025! Be sure to listen to this episode (or listen again) with David DeWitt to hear him talk about the importance of state and local news. Original Air Date: August 12th, 2025 David is the Ohio Capital Journal Editor-in-Chief and a Opinion Columnist. He has been covering government, politics, and policy in Ohio since 2007, in...

We’re re-releasing one of our favorite episodes from this year for our holiday break! Enjoy this conversation with Katie Gatti Tassin, where she talks about the intersection of money and politics. Already listened? Do it again - it’s been a while! 🤪 Original Air Date: June 3rd, 2025 Katie Gatti Tassin is the host of the Money with Katie podcast and author of the newsletter of the same name, both...

In episode 153, we kick off the start of our monthly series dropping Ohio-focused episodes, catching you up on the key legislation, power moves, and policy battles shaping Ohio politics. Don’t worry - we include any bright spots we can find plus action items every Ohioan should know. Resources: * Bill regulating drugs (including medication abortion pills) passes Ohio House committee * Both parties...

In episode 152, we sit down with Adrianne Marsh, longtime strategist, campaign leader, to dig into the evolution of voter behavior and the future of Democratic strategy. From digital ethnography to narrative research, she explains what campaigns keep getting wrong and how Democrats can more effectively connect, communicate, and win. Adrianne Marsh is a veteran Democratic operative and CEO of Altum...

In episode 150, we dig into the blueprint for turning red turf blue with movement-builders Jennifer Austin and Sarah Schulz. The duo from the Beyond Resistance Podcast explains the steps, strategies, and first actions that help local organizers build lasting power. Jennifer Austin and Sarah Schulz are the not-yet-famous-but-fiercely-effective duo behind the Beyond Resistance Podcast, where they di...

In episode 149, we are joined by our friend Jess Britvich, who helps us unpack how beauty, wellness, and “trad” content can become gateways to extremist ideologies. Jess breaks down how internet culture and algorithms subtly draw women into the alt-right pipeline and how we can pull each other back out. Jessica Britvich is a former social worker turned content creator whose content addresses the i...

In episode 148, we talk with our friend Dr. Cara Jacob about why she’s stepping up to run for the Ohio State Senate. From property taxes to public schools and healthcare, she shares what’s driving her campaign and how she hopes to create a fairer future for all Ohio families. Cara was raised in a small town with a close-knit family who taught her the values of hard work, integrity, and caring for...

In episode 147, we sit down with sixth-generation farmer and U.S. Senate candidate Hallie Shoffner, who’s stepping out of the fields and into the fight for Arkansas. Hallie shares why she’s taking on Tom Cotton and how she plans to stand up for the farmers, families, and working people who’ve been pushed to the back of the line. Hallie knows what it means to have to fight like hell for everything...

In episode 145, we sit down with human rights advocate Benjamin Goldhagen, who has spent the last two years documenting the war in Ukraine and confronting Russian disinformation. His work offers a rare, unfiltered look at what’s really happening on the ground and why the world must not look away. Benjamin Goldhagen is a committed human rights advocate and expert on Ukraine, deeply immersed in the...

Ohio is in the middle of a high-stakes redistricting battle that will shape political power through 2032 and gerrymandering is once again threatening fair representation. In episode 144, we’re joined by members of the Equal Districts Coalition to break down what’s happening, why it matters, and how Ohioans can demand fair maps. Meet the Panelists: Grace Metz is a second-year Computer and Informati...

In episode 143, we sit down with Monica Hopkins, executive director of the ACLU of the District of Columbia, to unpack what happened when Donald Trump deployed the National Guard into D.C. and what that moment revealed about the city’s lack of power. Monica explains how D.C.’s unique status without statehood leaves its residents without full representation, vulnerable to federal overreach, and str...

In episode 142, we are joined by Sam Grube, who is running for the Ohio Statehouse in District 18. Sam Grube grew up in Shaker Heights and has deep roots in the neighborhoods that make up Ohio House District 18, from Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights to East Cleveland, Orange and Warrensville Heights. As a product of public schools and a lifelong Northeast Ohioan, Sam knows firsthand what our f...

In episode 141, Caroline Stout shares her journey from growing up in a conservative household and working at Turning Point USA to breaking away from right-wing ideology. She opens up about the challenges of deconstructing her beliefs and embracing a progressive worldview. Caroline is a lawyer, progressive political activist, and former conservative who has seen the inside of the movement and chose...

In episode 140, Aliza Lifshitz, founder of the Youth Advisory Project, a nonpartisan initiative embedding youth voice into government institutions, joins us to talk about creating lasting pathways for young leaders in government. Aliza is a national leader in youth civic engagement. With a background in public policy and youth organizing, she has led advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, co-authored n...

In episode 139, we chat with Melanie Falls, a member of the National Board of Directors for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), about the amazing work the organization has done and continues to do. Melanie has been involved in advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community for over thirty-five years. She has worked on the lecture circuit throughout NE Ohio educating about the LGBTQ+ community. She has presented a...

Ashley had jury duty, and she’s taking you behind the scenes — from being summoned and selected to reaching a guilty verdict — she shares it all! Previous USS episode we mentioned : From Summons to Verdict: The Jury Duty Experience Connect with USS: * Substack * Instagram * TikTok This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner . Learn more about him and his services here: * Website * Instagram This is a...

In episode 137, we are joined by Bryan Hambley, who is running for Ohio Secretary of State. Tune in to learn more about him and what he would do if elected to help Ohio have free and fair elections! Bryan grew up on a small family farm in a tight-knit community where he saw the impact of people coming together. When he was a child, the state tried to shut down his town’s small public school. The t...

In episode 136, we chat with Sophie Christianson, an undergraduate student at the University of Richmond where she is the President of College Democrats. We talk about how democrats can win back Gen Z and how we lost them in the first place. Sophie is majoring in Business with a strong interest in public policy. She has experience working on political campaigns and in nonprofit spaces, where she h...

In episode 135, we are joined by the face behind our favorite daily newsletter - David DeWitt! We start everyday by reading his newsletter, The Eye-Opener from Ohio Capital Journal, and we are thrilled he took some time to talk to us about the importance of state and local news. David is the Ohio Capital Journal Editor-in-Chief and a Opinion Columnist. He has been covering government, politics, an...